Legislated targets for public, community and affordable housing have repeatedly not been met, claims ACT Greens MLA Jo Clay.

“We desperately need more public housing in Canberra, to give people locked out of the expensive private market somewhere to live,” the Greens spokesperson for planning said.

“My questions to Labor have revealed that in the new suburb of Whitlam, Housing ACT refused 32 single residential dwellings allocated to them by developers under legislated housing targets.

“This is on top of the five public and five community homes that were rejected in City West, despite these too being in legislated public housing targets for the site.

“The Greens have promised to build and buy 10,000 more public homes in the next 10 years, while Labor’s Ministers can’t meet their own public housing targets that are set down in law.

“The Labor Ministers are prioritising private development over delivering public housing, preferring to sell off blocks for profit, instead of funding Housing ACT well enough to buy land for public developments.

“How many public homes have been rejected? I’ve asked Labor’s Housing Minister. I’m still waiting on the answer.”